Fingernail coating device



April 28, 1964 s TA 3,130,734

' 'FINGERNAIL CQATING DEVICE Filed Aug. 4, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTORS fRmvcls R. ELLIS JAMES D. Ma VAY HEAD & JaH/vso/v A TTORNEYSApril 28, 1964 F. R. ELLlS ETAL 3,130,734

FINGERNAIL COATING DEVICE Filed Aug. 4, 1961 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTORS FRANCIS K ELLIS JAMES B MCVAY BY HEAD ap JaH/vsoN ATTORNEYSUnited States Patent 3,130,734 FEJGERNAHL CQATING DEVICE Francis R.Ellis, 5433 S. Louisville, and James D. McVay, 4153 E. 37th, both ofTulsa, Gkla. Filed Aug. 4, 1961, Ser. No. 129,272 7 Claims. (Cl.132-745) This invention is a fingernail sprayer. More particularly, theinvention is a device adaptable for quick and simple applications of acolor coating to fingernails and toenails.

It has been fashionable for many years for women to paint theirfingernails and toenails. Ordinarily, this coloring process isaccomplished by applying a coat of highly colored lacquer or otherliquid finish to the nails with a brush. Such means of coloring thenails is very time consuming and applies a thick heavy coat of finishwhich easily chips and peels off.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a means ofspraying fingernails and toenails which replaces the heretofore usedmeans of applying a colored finish with a brush.

Another object of this invention is to provide for the spraying ofcolored lacquer onto fingernails and toenails including means wherebythe amount of spray is controlled in a quick, short duration dischargefrom a pressurized can.

Another object of this invention is to provide a fingernail and toenailsprayer including a stencil means formed in the end thereof to conformto varying sizes and shapes of nails by the mere application of pressureon the stencil.

Another object of this invention is to provide a fingernail sprayerincluding a stencil adaptable to conform to the size and shape ofdifferent nails wherein the stencil also serves as a cuticle edger.

Another object of this invention is to provide a fingernail sprayerwhich will be simple in construction, economical to manufacture andassemble and easy to use.

These and other objects and a better understanding of the invention maybe had by referring to the following description and claims taken inconjunction with the attached drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of the fingernail sprayer of this invention asattached to a pressurized can.

FIGURE 2 is an end view of the fingernail sprayer of this inventionshowing the configuration of the stencil end.

FIGURE 3 is an end view of the fingernail sprayer of this inventionshowing the spray control means.

FIGURE 4 is a top view of the fingernail sprayer of this invention,shown partially in cross-section.

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 55 of FIGURE 4showing the internal construction of the fingernail sprayer of thisinvention.

FIGURE 6 is an isometric view, shown partially in cross-section, of thefingernail sprayer of this invention 1n use.

FIGURE 7 is a view of the stencil end of the fingernail sprayer of thisinvention shown in cross-section preparatory to positioning against anail.

FIGURE 8 is a view of the stencil end of the fingernail sprayer of thisinvention shown in cross-section as the stencil end is applied toconform to a larger nail.

This invention may be described as a device adaptable to use pressurizedspray means for coloring fingernails. More particularly, but not by wayof limitation, the invention may be described as: A fingernail sprayeradaptable for affixing to a pressurized can of liquid polish, said canhaving a depressible spray nozzle means by which contents of said can isdischarged when said nozzle is depressed, comprising; a molded bodymember, said body member having an opening therein adaptable to receive3,139,734 Patented Apr. 28, 1964 "Ice said spray nozzle, and said bodymember having an integrally formed tubular nozzle portion, said nozzleportion terminating in a stencil end portion adaptable to substantiallyconform to the outline shape of a fingernail; and means of removablyafiixing said body member to said can.

Referring now to the drawings and first to FIGURE 1, the fingernailsprayer of this invention is indicated generally by the numeral 10. Thefingernail sprayer 10 is adaptable for mounting on a pressurized can ofpolish 12. The polish in can 12 may be lacquer, quick drying enamel, orany other type of liquid which, when released from pressure, atomizesand upon contacting a surface forms a smooth, colored, quick dryingfilm.

Fingernail sprayer 10 consists essentially of a molded body portion 14,a nozzle member 16, a stencil end 13 and a spray control wheel 20. Bodyportion 14 and nozzle 16 may be of a molded plastic, or molded metalconstruction. The construction of stencil end 18 will be described inmore detail subsequently.

Referring to FIGURE 2, the end view of the stencil end 18 is shown.Stencil end 18 is formed of a pliable, flexible material, such asplastic, and is adaptable to expand when forced against a fingernail toconform to the nail. Stencil end 18 is integrally formed of a largerarea portion 22 and a smaller area portion 24. The larger portion 22 ofstencil end 18 is adaptable for spraying nails ranging in size frommedium to large, whereas smaller area portion 24 is adaptable forspraying nails of medium down to small size.

Referring to FIGURE 3, the end view shows the relative positioning ofspray control wheel 20 relative to body portion 14. An axis member 26extends through body portion 14 to rotatably support spray control wheel20. As is shown in FIGURE 5, spray control wheel 21) is of a star shapedconfiguration having integrally formed angular projections 28. Angularprojections 28 extend to engage a depressible spray nozzle 30 formed inthe top of can 12. Can 12 is of a typical commercially available typecompress liquid spray container wherein the depression of spray nozzle30 results in the ejection of a mist carrying gas from an orifice inspray nozzle 30. When spray control wheel 20 is rotated, angularprojections 28 extend to engage the top of spray nozzle 30 to forcespray nozzle 30 downwardly. As the rotation of spray control wheel 20continues, projection 28 moves off the top of the spray nozzle 30,allowing it to spring upwardly to terminate the emission of mist ladengas.

Angular projection 28 also serves to facilitate the application ofmanual pressure to rotate spray control wheel 20. The thumb of the user(see FIGURE 6) is placed against one of the angular projections 28 onspray control Wheel 20 which extend through an opening 31 in bodyportion 14, and with a quick forward movement, spray nozzle 30 isquickly depressed and automatically released as one angular projection28 passes against and then ofl? the top of the spray nozzle 30. Thisprovides a means whereby a quick, short duration, burst of gas emissiontakes place to provide transfer of colored polish to a nail.

The provision of spray control wheel 20 provides a way in which theduration of spray may be more easily and accurately controlled. Pressureof the thumb against an angular projection 28 will quickly move nozzle30 downwardly, and as soon as angular projection 28 slips off the top ofnozzle 30, nozzle 30 will spring back upward. This provides a means ofcontrolling the duration of spraying much more accurately than if thenozzle 30 is manually depressed and then released. Such a manual actionrequires a mental calculation of the time nozzle S il is depressed andwill vary considerably according to the reaction time of the individual.By the principles of the spray control wheel 20, the operator, by theforward rotation of wheel 20 with one quick upward and forward pressureof the thumb against an angular projection 28, can, with substantialaccuracy, duplicate repeatedly the length of time the spray nozzle 30 isdepressed. This means that the design of a successful commercialfingernail sprayer utilizing the principles of this invention is morefeasible in that the uncontrollable factor of the amount of time whichan operator would manually depress spray nozzle 30 is eliminated.

Body portion 14 is molded so that it extends to a base nozzle area 32which is tubular in cross-sectional configuration. Nozzle 16, althoughof an elongated configuration as shown in FIGURE 2, rat the stencil end18 is formed so that rat the point where nozzle 16 engages base nozzlearea 32 of body portion 14 it is of an equal crosssectionalconfiguration. Nozzle 16 is formed so as to engage and adhere to basenozzle area 32 of body portion 14. One means of accomplishing this isshown in the cross-section of FIGURE 5. Base nozzle area 3 2 terminatesin an inwardly slanted portion 34. Nozzle 16 terminates in an outwardlyslanted portion 36 so that the inwardly slanted portion 34 and theoutwardly slanted portion 36 will engage and conform to each other. Bythe exertion of manual pressure, nozzle 16 may be pulled from engagementwith body portion 14 rotated, and refixed to 'body portion 14 byinwardly applied pressure. The requirement for the reversal ofpositioning of nozzle 16 relative to body portion 14 may be ascertainedbest by referring to FIGURE 2 and FIGURE 6.

As has previously been mentioned, stencil end 18 is formed with a largerarea portion 22 and a smaller area portion 24. As is shown in FIGURE 6,the fingernail sprayer 19' is so constructed that the polish spray mist,generally indicated by the numeral 38, is directed primarily to thelower portion of nozzle 16. Thus, when it is desired to spray arelatively large nail, nozzle 16 will be positioned relative to bodyportion 14 so that the larger area portion 22 of stencil end 18 isturned downwardly. That is, in the direction of can 12 as shown inFIGURE 2. When it is desired to spray a relatively small nail, nozzle 16will be disengaged from body portion 14 and rotated so that smaller areaportion 24 is positioned downwardly or nearest to can 12. By thedirection of spray mist 38 towards the lower area of nozzle 16, sprayingpolish beyond the end of the nail is minimized.

Stencil end 18 is uniquely formed according to the principles of thisinvention in a manner so that it is adaptable to receive and con-form tovarying sizes of nails. As shown in FIGURE 4, stencil end 13 is composedof the tapered end 40 ot nozzle 16 and is surrounded by an elasticmember 42. The tapered end 40 of stencil end 18 is provided with notches44- Which may be described vasslits with stop holes, which are spacedabout the circumference. Nozzle 16 is formed of a material, such asplastic, having inherent pliability. The reduced thickness of thetapered end 40- provides a high degree of flexibility of the material atthe stencil end 18. This pliability permits stencil end 18 to expand andconform to a varying size of nails as the stencil end 1% is pressedagainst the nail. To insure accurate stencilling so that the polish willnot be deposited on the area surrounding the nail, elastic member 42surrounding tapered end 40 supplements the natural resiliency of theplastic material nozzle 16.

The function of notches 44 is best seen in FIGURE 7 and FIGURE 8. In thenormal, non-use condition, the elastic member l2 keeps the circumferenceof the stencil end 13 reduced to a When the stencil end 18 is pressedagainst a large nail, the stencil end 1 8 expands, spreading notches 44as shown in FIG- UR-E 8. Elastic member 42 serves to cover the areaexposed by expanded notches 44 to prevent the sprayed polish from beingdeposited beyond the nail.

Operation l The use and application of the invention can best bediscerned from FIGURE 6. FIGURE 6 discloses the fingernail sprayer 1t)affixed to can 12 as held in the hand 46 of a user of the invention. Theother hand 48, which is positioned to receive the application of a coatof polish to nails 56, is shown supported against a bracket 52. Bracket52 is equipped with flanges 5'4 integrally formed therewith andextending in a spaced parallel re lationship to each other to receive asupport, such as is afi'orded by a table top 56. Bracket 52 is inclinedto provide a correct angle for ease or" application of a coat of polishto the nails of the user.

Affixed to the forward surface of bracket 52 is sponge rubber or foamplastic material 58. This material provides a soft cushion to receivethe hand. Applying sprayer 10 against nail 56 with pressure forces theend of the finger 66 to depress into the sponge rubber material 58. Thismaterial 58 forms a protective cushion around the end of the finger 61)to receive and absorb tany polish which is discharged out of stencil end18 which does not intersect the nail 56. To use the invention, theoperator holds can 12 in one hand 46 with the thumb 62 positionedagainst an angular projection 2a of spray control wheel 26 and forcesstencil end 18 against nail 5d. The operator then moves thumb 62 quicklyforward which, by action of angular projection 28 of spray control wheel20, torces spray nozzle 39 downwardly and discharges a spray mist 38 ofpolish. The fingernail sprayer It) is so designed that the configurationdefined by the spray mist 38 at the stencil end 18 is sufiicient sothat, at this point, a cross-sectional [area of the spray rnist 3 8 issubstantially equal to the maximum size to which stencil end 1-8 wouldbe expanded to receive the largest fingernail 5d.

The means in which the stencil end 13, as constructed according to thenovel principles of this invention, is adaptable to conform to varyingsized nails is shown best in FIGURES 7 and 8. FIGURE 7 shows the nozzle1-6 and stencil end 1-8 adjacent a nail 50 preparatory to positioningthe fingernail sprayer of the invention to impart a smooth coat ofpolish to the nail 5'6. In FIG- URE 7 the elastic member 4-2 hascontacted the tapered end portion 45) of nozzle 16 to close notches 44so that the cross-sectional configuration of the stencil end 18 isreduced to its minimum size.

FIGURE 8 shows the stencil end 18 as pressed against nail 50. Thenatural curvature of the nail 50 causes the stencil end 18 to expandoutwardly in all directions to engage the cuticle 64 surrounding nail5t}. Notches 44, in combination with the natural pliability of taperedend 40 of nozzle 16, expand to encompass the total area of nail 51). Thepressure required to force the tapered end portion 41 of nozzle 16outwardly, overcoming the restrictive force of elastic member 42,applies sufficient pressure against nail 50 to eltectively push thecuticle 64 surrounding nail 50 outwardly, substantially improving theappearance of the nail. At the same time, the stencil end 18 hasoutlined nail 5d and, with a short burst of spray mist 38, not shown inFIGURE 8, nail 50 will receive an attractive, thin and evenly appliedprotective coat of polish.

If nail 50 is a relatively small nail, so that in its normal mostrestrictive state as shown in FIGURE 7 the area of the stencil end 18 isstill larger than the nail, then the nozzle 16 may be rotated relativeto base nozzle area 32 of body portion 14 so that the small area portion24, as best seen in FIGURE 2, is in a position to receive the spray mist38. The means by which small area portion 24 of stencil end 13 conformsto the smaller nail is identical to the means whereby the larger areaportion 22 conforms to a larger nail.

Body portion 14 is provided with integrally formed circular flanges 66to pliably grip rim 68 of can 12 so that the fingernail sprayer may beeasily removed from can 12 by a mere upward pressure, dislodging flanges66 from around rim 68. It may be reinserted over rim 68 of a new can 12at a mere downward pressure. Thus, the fingernail sprayer 10 may be usedrepeatedly as cans 12 of spray material are completely used anddiscarded.

When spraying a relatively small nail, some of the spray will inherentlyengage the interior sides of nozzle 16 adjacent stencil end 18. Sincethe spray material in can 12 will normally be of a rapid dryingmaterial, this liquid which does engage and adhere to the interior ofnozzle 16 will not interfere with the use of the fingernail sprayer 10for repeated spraying of nails. It will occasionally be required, aftera long build up of polish to the interior of nozzle 16, to remove theaccumulation as by submerging the nozzle portion 16 in a suitablesolvent.

This invention provides a means whereby the nails of a person may beeasily and quickly coated with a protective material to provide, notonly protection, but beauty to the nails. By the ingenuity of theinvention, the complete coloring of all of the nails of the hand may beaccomplished in just a fraction of the time normally required by theonerous and tedious coloring of the nails with a brush. The coat ofpolish applied will be even, free of laps or brush marks, and muchthinner. Thus, a more attractive finish will be applied to the nailswhich will be longer lasting and less apt to chip and become displeasingin appearance.

In this invention, only fingernails have been referred to, but ofcourse, the device of this invention and the principles embodied hereinmay be equally applied to the coating of toenails. In this disclosure wehave referred to polish which is intended to include any liquid capableof atomization desirable to be applied to nails.

Although this invention has been described with a certain degree ofparticularity, it is manifested that many changes may be made in thedetails of construction and the arrangement of components withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of this disclosure.

What is claimed:

1. A fingernail sprayer comprising a pressurized can of liquid polish,said can having a depressible spray nozzle means by which contents ofsaid can is discharged when said nozzle is depressed;

a molded body member, said body member having an opening thereinadaptable to receive said spring nozzle, and said body member having anintegrally formed substantially tubular nozzle portion, said nozzleportion terminating in a substantially tubular stencil end portion ofresilient material having a multiplicity of slits therein, the slittedstencil end portion conformable to the outline shape of a fingernailwhen forced against a fingernail; and

means of removably aflixing said body member to said can.

2. A device according to claim 1 including means of controlling thedischarge of contents from said can wherein said body member has a slotopening therein opposite from said nozzle portion, comprising a spraycontrol wheel rotatably supported within said body member wherein theperiphery of said spray control wheel is adjacent said depressible spraynozzle and said slot opening in said body member; and angularprojections integrally formed on said spray control wheel, said angularprojections disposed to project through said slot opening in said bodymember whereby said spray control wheel may be manually rotaed, andwhereby said projections engage said depressible spray nozzle as saidspray control wheel is rotated to depress said spray control nozzle todischarge contents from said can.

3. A fingernail spray device comprising a pressurized can of liquidpolish, said can having a depressible spray nozzle by which contents ofsaid can is discharged when said nozzle is depressed, and wherein saidcan has an integrally formed circular rim adjacent the top thereof, amolded body member, said body member having a circular can receivingopening therein adaptable to receive said spray nozzle and said circularrim of said can, said circular opening defined by an integrally formedinwardly extending flange portion adaptable to expandably grasp said rimof said can whereby said body member is removably affixed to said can,said body member having an integrally formed tubular base nozzle portionextending at substantially a right angle to the axis of said canreceiving opening; and a tubular nozzle member having means at one endthereof whereby said nozzle may be removably affixed to the end of saidbase nozzle portion to act as an extension of said base nozzle portion,said nozzle terminating at the other end thereof by a conformablestencil end portion adpatable to substantially conform by theapplication of force to the outline shape of a fingernail.

4. A fingernail sprayer according to claim 3 wherein said stencil endportion terminates in a configuration having an expandable small nailarea and an expandable large nail area diametrically opposed to eachother, and wherein said nozzle member may be afiixed to said base nozzleportion in two different symmetrical alignments whereby in one alignmentthe contents discharged from said can when said spray nozzle isdepressed engages primarily said small nail area and whereby in thealternate alignment the contents discharged from said can when saidspray nozzle is depressed engages primarily said large nail area.

5. A device according to claim 3 including means of controlling thedischarge of contents from said can wherein said body member has a slotopening therein opposite from said nozzle portion, comprising a spraycontrol wheel rotatably supported within said body member wherein theperiphery of said spray control wheel is adjacent said depressible spraynozzle and said slot opening in said body member; and angularprojections integrally formed on said spray control wheel, said angularprojections disposed to project through said slot opening in said bodymember whereby said spray control Wheel may be manually rotated, andwhereby said projections engage said depressible spray nozzle as saidspray control Wheel is rotated to depress said spray control nozzle todischarge contents from said can.

6. A fingernail sprayer according to claim 3 wherein said stencil end isformed with notches therein, said notches formed substantially in planesof the tubular axis of said nozzle member, whereby said notches expandto increase width as said stencil end is forced against to conform tolarger fingernails.

7. A fingernail sprayer according to claim 6 including an elastic memberdisposed around said stencil end whereby said notches formed in saidstencil end are retained closed except when forced apart as said stencilend is forced against a nail.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,722,224 Blann Nov. 1, 1955 2,857,071 Kuehne Oct. 21, 1958 2,942,622Hahn et al. June 28, 1960 2,964,220 Appel Dec. 13, 1960 3,007,613 TygardNov. 7, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 807,659 Germany July 2, 1961

1. A FINGERNAIL SPRAYER COMPRISING A PRESSURIZED CAN OF LIQUID POLISH,SAID CAN HAVING A DEPRESSIBLE SPRAY NOZZLE MEANS BY WHICH CONTENTS OFSAID CAN IS DISCHARGED WHEN SAID NOZZLE IS DEPRESSED; A MOLDED BODYMEMBER, SAID BODY MEMBER HAVING AN OPENING THEREIN ADAPTABLE TO RECEIVESAID SPRING NOZZLE, AND SAID BODY MEMBER HAVING AN INTEGRALLY FORMEDSUBSTANTIALLY TUBULAR NOZZLE PORTION, SAID NOZZLE PORTION TERMINATING INA SUBSTANTIALLY TUBULAR STENCIL END PORTION OF RESILIENT MATERIAL HAVINGA MULTIPLICITY OF SLITS THEREIN, THE SLITTED STENCIL END PORTIONCONFORMABLE TO THE OUTLINE SHAPE OF A FINGERNAIL WHEN FORCED AGAINST AFINGERNAIL; AND MEANS OF REMOVABLY AFFIXING SAID BODY MEMBER TO SAIDCAN.